Pre-Natal Development Stages

Pre-Natal Development

• This is the process where a human embryo and later a fetus develops in the mother's womb from conception to birth.
• This period is crucial for physical, cognitive, and emotional development.

Stages of Pre-Natal Development

• There are three distinct stages of pre-natal development.

Germinal Stage (0-2 weeks)

• This stage begins at conception when a sperm fertilizes an egg, forming a single-celled zygote.
• The zygote divides rapidly and forms a blastocyst.
• The blastocyst travels through the fallopian tube and implants in the uterine wall.
• The placenta begins to develop, which allows for the exchange of oxygen and nutrients between the mother and the embryo.

Embryonic Stage (3-8 weeks)

• The developing baby is called an embryo during this stage.
• Major organs and structures like the heart, brain, spinal cord, limbs, and facial features start to form.
• The neural tube closes by the fourth week, later developing into the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).
• The heart starts beating around 6 weeks.
• The embryo is highly sensitive to teratogens (alcohol, drugs, infections) that can cause birth defects.

Fetal Stage (9 weeks to birth)

• The developing baby is called a fetus during this stage.
• Growth is rapid, and the organs continue to mature.
• The fetus starts showing reflexive movements, like kicking, sucking, and swallowing.
• By 24 weeks, the fetus is considered viable and has a chance of survival outside the womb with medical support.
• The third trimester (28 weeks onward) is crucial for brain development and weight gain.

Factors Influencing Pre-Natal Development

• Several factors can impact the health and development of the fetus.

Genetic Factors

• Chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome and Turner syndrome affect development.
• Inherited genetic disorders like cystic fibrosis and sickle cell anemia can impact the fetus.

Teratogens (Environmental Hazards)

• Alcohol can cause Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.
• Drugs (nicotine, cocaine) can result in low birth weight, premature birth, or developmental delays.
• Infections (rubella, Zika virus) can lead to congenital disabilities.

Maternal Health and Nutrition

• Poor nutrition may result in low birth weight and developmental issues.
• Folic acid deficiency increases the risk of neural tube defects like spina bifida.

Stress and Emotional Well-Being

• High levels of stress hormones (cortisol) in the mother can impact fetal brain development.

Age of the Mother

• Teen pregnancies may result in low birth weight and complications.
• Advanced maternal age (35+) increases the risk of chromosomal abnormalities.

Infancy and Toddlerhood: Stages and Developmental Milestones

• Infancy (birth to 12 months) and toddlerhood (1 to 3 years) are critical periods of rapid growth and development.
• Children undergo significant physical, cognitive, social, and emotional changes, laying the foundation for lifelong learning and well-being.
• Infancy and toddlerhood are foundational periods for growth in physical abilities, cognition, emotions, and social interactions.
• Early experiences shape future learning, behavior, and relationships.

Physical Development in Infancy and Toddlerhood

• Includes growth in size and weight, motor skills, and changes in the brain and nervous system.

Growth and Body Changes - Infancy (0-12 months)

• Newborns weigh 2.5–4.5 kg and measure 45–55 cm.
• Birth weight doubles by 6 months and triples by 12 months.
• Babies begin to lose newborn reflexes and gain voluntary muscle control.

Physical Development - Toddlerhood (1-3 years)

• Growth slows but remains steady.
• By age 2, toddlers are about half their adult height.
• Muscle strength increases, enabling running, climbing, and jumping.

Motor Development

• Divided into gross motor skills (large movements) and fine motor skills (small, precise movements).

Gross Motor Skills

• Infancy: Rolling over (3-4 months), sitting (6-7 months), crawling (8-10 months), walking (12-15 months).
• Toddlerhood: Running, jumping, climbing, balancing on one foot.

Fine Motor Skills

• Infancy: Grasping objects (4-5 months), pincer grasp (9 months), self-feeding (12 months).
• Toddlerhood: Holding a crayon, turning pages in a book, stacking blocks.

Brain Development

• The brain grows rapidly, reaching 80% of its adult size by age 3.
• Neural connections strengthen through sensory experiences and interactions.
• Myelination (coating of nerve fibers) speeds up information processing.

Cognitive Development in Infancy and Toddlerhood

• Refers to the ability to think, learn, and remember.

Piaget’s Sensorimotor Stage (0-2 years)

• Infants and toddlers learn through sensory experiences and movement.
• Birth to 4 months: Reflex-based learning (sucking, grasping).
• 4-8 months: Object manipulation (shaking a rattle).
• 8-12 months: Object permanence (understanding that objects still exist when hidden).
• 12-18 months: Trial-and-error learning (dropping objects to see what happens).
• 18-24 months: Symbolic thought (pretend play begins).

Language Development

• Infancy (0-12 months): Cooing (2 months), babbling (6 months), first words (12 months).
• Toddlerhood (1-3 years): Vocabulary explosion (by age 2, toddlers know ~50 words; by age 3, ~1,000 words).
• Toddlers begin to form two-word sentences ("want cookie") and understand more words than they can speak.

Social and Emotional Development

• This involves bonding, attachment, emotions, and early social skills.

Erikson’s Psychosocial Stages

• Outlines key challenges during infancy and toddlerhood.
• Trust vs. Mistrust (0-1 year): Responsive caregivers lead to trust; neglect may lead to mistrust.
• Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt (1-3 years): Toddlers seek independence; over-controlling parents may lead to doubt and low confidence.

Attachment Theory (John Bowlby)

• Emphasizes secure attachment as crucial for emotional development.
• Secure Attachment: Babies feel safe with caregivers and explore confidently.
• Insecure Attachment: Babies are either overly clingy (anxious) or avoidant.

Emotional Development

• Infants express basic emotions (happiness, anger, fear).
• Toddlers show self-awareness and complex emotions (pride, shame, embarrassment).

Socialization and Play

• Play is essential for learning and social development.
• Solitary Play (0-12 months): Playing alone (e.g., shaking a rattle).
• Parallel Play (1-2 years): Playing side by side without interaction.
• Associative Play (2-3 years): Beginning to interact with other toddlers.